1. Marina Paņkova Association of Latvian Travel Agents and Tour Operators Secretary General The Association of Latvian Travel Agents and Tour Operators

2.  The only professional public organization of travel agents and tour operators in Latvia.  Established in 1991.  Established by merger of leading tourism companies in order to found a consolidated managerial institution to coordinate and develop business activities of travel agents and tour operators, protect their interests and represent Latvian travel business on the world scale.  Today we are 70 companies.  Our members` market share forms up to 80% of all trade with tourism services in Latvia.

3.  Member of ECCTA (2004) - the Group of national travel agents’ and tour operators’ associations within the EU. It actively cooperates with EU institutions and international organizations to ensure that their interests and special requirements are taken into consideration.  Cooperation partner to all national governmental bodies responsible for tourism development (Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture etc.), as well as regional institutions (municipalities).  Member of Consultative Committee to the Latvian Tourism Development Agency, responsible for realization of national tourism marketing.  One of the 4 founders of the foundation Riga Tourism Development Bureau (2009) together with Riga City Council, national airline airBaltic, the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association (LVRA).  Traditional&close cooperation partner with national air carrier airBaltic, other professional and regional tourism associations (AHRL, Country traveler etc.)

4.  Members of ALTA: high quality, responsibility, professionalism  Product: the Baltics + Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg) or + Scandinavia (Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki)  Culture + Nature + History // High quality expectations + value for money // Specific requirements

5.  From 1991 ALTA is organizing the annual international travel trade fair “Balttour”, which is the largest travel trade fair in the Baltics.  Welcome to the “Balttour 2015”, which will take place at Kipsala International Exhibition Centre, Riga, Latvia from 6–8 February 2015.

6. Balttour demographics (2010-2015) Stands Represented tourism companies Represented countries Visitors Participants +15%

7. Sustainable Tourism Cluster of Latvia Overall goals: To promote interdisciplinary collaboration among the travel agents and tour operators, tourism service providers, research and educational institutions thus facilitating the growth of sustainable tourism of Latvia and related company competitiveness To create and implement innovations To develop exportable tourism products To provide optimum added value to clients and end consumers

8. Members of the Cluster Travel agencies/tour operators – 28 Higher educational establishments – 4 NGOs – 4 Planning region – 1 Others – 2 Partners of the Cluster - 18

9. Contacts: E-mail: alta@alta.net.lv E-mail: marina@alta.net.lv Web: www.alta.net.lv Thank you for the attention!